Los Angeles County Store keeps it local with artisan-made goods

Locally made gift items get their due at the new Los Angeles County Store in Silver Lake. From left are Margaret Gallagher, owner MaryAnne LoVerme and Sarah Vandersall. (Blake Gardner Photography)

At 4,084 square miles, Los Angeles County can present a formidable challenge for those looking to uncover creative finds from local artisans. MaryAnne LoVerme just made it a lot easier. She's opened Los Angeles County Store, which offers goods made exclusively within the Los Angeles County area.

"I wanted to help people who are making things in L.A. in a really practical way," says LoVerme, a Brooklyn transplant who is a jewelry maker and veteran organizer of craft shows and pop-ups.

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Tucked in a Silver Lake strip mall on Sunset Boulevard, the store can be tough to spot since its sign has yet to be installed. Look for a white space peppered with plywood furnishings designed and built by employees Sarah Vandersall and Margaret Gallagher, both artists.

Neighborhood postcards by Ink and Smog; airy, handmade weavings by Rachel Duvall; and plush toys made from reclaimed materials by Zazu Faure are some of the finds available in the shop. The store plans to hold workshops and events designed to "help people take pride in their city and realize just how many things are made in Los Angeles," LoVerme says.